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Will FFXIII Be The Last Recognizable "Final Fantasy?"

It's a frightening possibility for those of us who have come to love the franchise over the past 20-some years. But could Final Fantasy XIII represent "the end of an era?"

During an Edge Online interview with Square-Enix boss Yoichi Wada, we learn that Final Fantasy XV (remember, number XIV is an all-online title slated to release this year as well) may not be in the cards. Or if it is, it won't be anything the fans would typically expect. You may or may not agree with Wada's surprisingly bold words but either way, S-E has it in their heads that they must expand and progress beyond the traditional:

"I believe Final Fantasy XIII is going be something special, and that it’s going to be well received by the audience. But whether we are going to continue to internally create this type of game remains to be seen, because I actually feel that the team that was involved with Final Fantasy XIII should next move on to create and generate some ‘next generation’ forms of play. Internally and externally I feel there’s an expectation of Square Enix to offer something new, and I really think that the Final Fantasy team could create something completely different, but at the moment they’re strictly catering to the particular audience they have now."

He added that he doesn't want his company to only be known for FF and Dragon Quest, although he certainly does want Square-Enix to be synonymous with "high-quality games." So what are you thinking, Wada? FPSs? More online multiplayer stuff? Western hack 'n slashes? I could be wrong, but I get the feeling that of the several million in Japan that have already bought FFXIII, and the million more in the US and Europe that will buy it, most are buying it because it's distinctly "Final Fantasy." Whoever said they wanted that name slapped on an unrecognizable adventure or genre? At the same time, it would be hypocritical of me to slam the idea, as I've always said that failure to progress is the same as stagnation...and that doesn't fly in this industry.

Even so, it'll be very tough to accept a new direction for the franchise. Personally, it would mean my days of FF loyalty are numbered. :(

I've been playing LO all week. Just moved on to the 2nd disc. It's very good and it just slays me how close it is to a FF game. Even the battle victory song is so very close. The battles are fantastic but the story is nothing special.

I think the characters are alright, not FF pre-XII standard but certainly ok.... fine the lead character can be to bland at times but other than that i'd say they're all good, though i am still early on in the game.

Alienage, it is probably all just posturing. Just like a movie star actor who has done the first few installments of a franchise. (Think Spiderman, Bourne, Harry Potter), and the stars always say, "Yeah, I think this is going to be my last one". It is a way to milk more money out of the studio to get them back for another movie.

Abandon everything that make your company special and start on a new sheet? Microsoft must be paying you a lot to be financially sane to even THINK of that idea.Last edited by godsman on 1/7/2010 11:27:57 AM

Final fantasy is the reason for square enix's success. It is the heart and soul of the company. Its like if capcom wants to discontinue with resident evil and move on to other projects because they don't want to only be known for resident evil and monster hunter.

I take it that wada is not a video gamer and doesn't understand the moral of keeping popular franchises anything but final.

Hahaha I'm not trying to flame you but seriously, this post made no sense at all. Why do you hate Nintendo so? It's ok to criticize their lack of support for hard core gamers this gen, but they still have brands that are worth playing and worthy of praise. Ive barely turned on my PS3 since Spirit Tracks was released. Get over it meng. you sound like an Xbot hating on Sony sometimes with your irrational rants against Nintendo. Nintendo has done a lot for the industry and continues too. We all prefer our PS3 but come on! Nintendo's not all bad.

Oh it fantastic. I can't put it down. It's a worthy addition to any Zelda fans collection. It does everything right that was in Phantom Hourglass but does it better. The train is much more fun then the sailing and I can never get tired of Wind Waker Link.

I don't understand why some are so quick to discount Nintendo and their achievements. Yea the Wii has not been the hardcore gamers best choice but so what! That's what we have our PS3's for. I really don't understand why PS3 owners complain about them so much. Especially about infrequent Zelda releases. As I stated on the Analyst prediction post, there's been 3 in 4 years. Can't discount the handhelds. They are just as good as any console Zelda I've played.

have you played Phantom Hourglass?Last edited by Jawknee on 1/7/2010 6:00:47 PM

Nice. I have finished Phantom. I'm going to play it again when I'm done with Spirits Tracks to pick up missing items, hearts etc.

I too enjoy the Wii. It got a lot of use at launch. my PS3 collected dust. That's changed now because of all the great Sony games coming out now but even now I don't regret buying the Wii. I do wish it supported HD though. But it's not that big of a deal I suppose.

@ Jawknee - That wasn't a rant. And please note, you're blasting me for hating the Wii and then go on and on about how great the Zelda games for the DS are. Why are you throwing the DS out in front of the Wii when you think it's under attack?

Also please note, I have never said I hated the Wii. It is Nintendo's lack of new games that irritates me. I gave them $250 for their system. The least they could do is give me more than TWO games I want to play on it.

By all means, attack the Wii all you want. My only point is that Nintendo as a whole is a valueable company and have done a lot of great things. You seem to hate the company because of your disdain for the Wii. You called them Satan. Over dramatic no? I got a lot of use out of my Wii. Great launch titles. But now it's the PS3's turn. :) I don't see the problem.

And I only brought the up DS by the way because you complained about there not being enough Zelda releases this generation which obviously isn't true.

So "thanks for not getting the point". ;)Last edited by Jawknee on 1/7/2010 9:51:00 PM

He's probably just saying that so that loyal and new fans will rush out and buy his crappy game thinking it is the last. I'm sure there will be more of the awesome spiky hair,He-shes,turn based games you people crave so much.(no disrespect ^_^)

Or maybe square-enix(mostly Wada) is soo sick and tired of the fans asking for a FF VII remake. On a side note, it would be sad day if FF ever turns into something like or has the concept of FF the spirits within.

SE comes across as being autocratic, statements like this add to that impression. Not sure why SE would move away from FF and FF-like games, it almost sounds like he's basically saying no more JRPGs from SE.

I don't know what to make of this. It feels like games are changing and not necessarily for the better. I think that some game companies have ambitions to be producers of digital entertainment, and not video games. A JRPG clearly is a video game, it is a game that you play. However, more and more it seems as though some of the game producers want to make their experience bigger and 'better'. So would a 3D immersive Final Fantasy game really be a Final Fantasy game?

I think not. I think it may well be a great entertainment experience, but to me, personally, there is a difference between a video game that you play and a entertainment experience that is less about playing a game and more about immersion and the experience itself.

I can't quite put my finger on this feeling and explain it the way I want to, but I do feel like there is a divergence coming where part of the industry goes one way and part goes another. Maybe the way to put it is that SE and some other companies appear to be interested more in making digital cinema than in making video games? No, that's not it either.

That's kind of the point. If they want something new and fresh, then by all means make something new. But FF fans want more of the FF that made them fans to begin with. I started playing them almost 20 years ago, and have played every one of them hoping for more of the same entertainment the first 10 games gave me.

It's strange how coming into this generation of gaming some developers have been delivering one big let down after another, either with their mouth or their games.

On the flip side, other developers are stepping up with great stuff. If Final Fantasy disappears it will be missed, but I will most certainly have forgotten about this Wada guy. He can go ahead with his silliness while I check out the competition.

Here is... a little thought for everyone here to snack on. 10, 20 even 30 years from now do you see Final Fantasy, Call of Duty, or even Resident Evil the big players? If you do, you may be right... you may be wrong.

Everything has an end, moving away from one IP probably does not seem so great right now for anyone here, but Square Enix might have something in mind, something that will turn all gamers' expectations.

First, we expected Mario games to be extremely fun and entertaining! What happened to Mario? Later down the years Final Fantasy and Resident Evil came along, and then Modern Warfare... but like everyone is already saying, FF is different after FFX.

The generation of... the next 20 years or what-have-you wont even recognize Final Fantasy nor Resident Evil or even World of Warcraft for that matter. They will be thinking of... World of Mariocraft or some other crazy IP the industry comes up with... Just as the newer generations of today do not recognize Mario. The newer generations of tomorrow wont recognize Final Fantasy, or any great franchise we can think of today.

Damn it... I talk to much...Last edited by Tatsujin on 1/7/2010 7:40:58 PM

I have a 6 year old boy here that would love to disagree with you over Mario being recognized. He has all the new Mario games. Heck, even Pacman, Frogger and Space Invaders are still making games. And what is Super Stardust HD other than a glorified version of Asteroids?

Right. Your boy, out of the 5 kids standing around, is alongside with only one other kid. 2/5 kids know about those great arcade games we had to where as back then it was the vise-versa. Not every parent shows their kid the true start of video game history, and although true not all kids need to be shown, they can figure it out on their own, the odds are slim of that happening. So, should Tyranch go ahead and make another WWII game? Or does your kid wanna disagree with me somemore? idk...

Whatever. If you haven't seen how well Mario did this holiday season you obviously have no reason to be posting on a gaming site. I had to go to 6 stores to find the new Mario Brothers because every one was sold out. I'm pretty sure it wasn't all 30 year old men buying them up for themselves. And my point was that all these other games ARE still out there being remade all the time. Really. Go look, I think you have some checking to do. Should Tyranch go ahead and make another WWII game? Sure!

For the record, Final Fantasy (the first one) came out in 1983. That's nearly a THIRTY year legacy it's created. THIRTY YEARS!

I see no reason the name won't go on for another 30. Whether or not it's recognizable by that time... who's to say? But as long as the games are still beautiful, immersive, and entertaining, I'll keep playing them.

ahh, this is like the biggest reason to get rid of Wada, i mean, shut the hell up. so you're just going to abandon the gamers who made you guys who you are and doing something else. You dont want to be know just for final fantasy and dragon quest, seriously? i believe that a lot of developers would want to have that series that they would be known for concerning the quality of their work. Lucky for gamers that there are always other studios waiting to take control, heres hoping to level 5 and white knight chronicles.

my GOD! this guy loves to run his mouth.wada, your in the wrong industry you should go work as a PR guy.you would be perfect for the job, in fact you and MR greenburg would get along perfectly.both love to run there mouths off about absolute crap!do me a favour.announce a game, release it, announce a game, release it.not announce a game, announce another game, announce another game, hype another game, hype another game, than release a game.jesus christ!if this guy put half as much work in making the games we would be up to FF 55 by now!

They should make some free online games, SE could definately make some incredible mmorpgs. They have the potential. It sucks that FFXIV is pay to play. You would think that if it were free, many more people would buy and play it.